Combination lock



E. TOBLER COMBINATION LOCK Filed Nov. 2, 1922 \in--- ly h Ill! [72 van i0).-

Patented July 22, 1924.

- nanns'r woman, or BnaUNsoHwnIc, GERMANY.

COMBINATION LOCK.

Application filed. November T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST TOBLER, a resident of Braunschweig, Germany, citizen of the Swiss Confederation, have invented certain Improvements in Combination Locks, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to a combination padlock of the kind comprising a casing adapted for the reception of the two limbs of a shackle and provided with rotatable, notched rings which in one position lock the shackle by engagement with notches in its limbs and which release the shackle when,

by a certain relative adjustment, all the ring notches are set in alignment with each other and with the limbs, the rings being directly superposed and adapted to be transposed with respect to each other for changing the combination.

The object of the invention is to provide additional means for changing the combination of the look without complicating the structure, and the invention consists in arranging the notches of the shackle limbs in a relatively staggered position and in arranging the ring notches so that a change in the combination can be effected by reversing the shackle and by turning each of the rings over bodily.

Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings rep resents a vertical section of the padlock taken on the line c-d of Fig. 3,

Fig. 2, a side view of the padlock, and

Fig. 3, a cross-section on the line a-72 of Fig. 1.

Figs. at and 5 are views showing difierent forms of notching the shackle limbs.

The padlock consists of a casing 3 having a central circular cavity in which a plurality of rings 5, piled directed on each other, are rotatably arranged. There are also two diametrically opposed bores which are adapted to receive the two limbs of a shackle 1 and which slightly encroach on the central cavity so as to allow the rings to engage notches l -*4 made in the limbs of the shackle l. Notches 4 of one limb are staggered relative to the notches 4 9 of 2, 1922. Serial No. 598,648.

the other limb, and each ring has an elongated circumferential notch 9 in which to admit the full portion of one limb while the ring engages a notch in the opposite limb. The notch 9 allows the ring to be turned through an angle a, and the ring has another notch 8 which, in one position of rotary adjustment of the ring, registers with the opposite limb of the shackle so as to leave the latter disengaged. Each ring is provided, in known manner, with a stud 7 which projects through a slot in the side of the casing and which can be used for adjusting the ring. The position of the stud relative to the notch 8 and to the casing slot is such, that the stud determines the unlocking position, i. e., the registration of the notch 8 with the shackle limb, by abutment against one edge of the slot. In Fig. 3 the unlocking movement is anti-clockwise, and it is evident that, by turning the ring over on the other side and reversing the shackle, the unlocking movement will be a clockwise one. By arranging the notch 8 opposite different ends of the notch 9 and altering the position of the stud 7 accordingly, the rings can be made to open in either direction in any given position in the pile, and a suitable combination is made up which must be known for opening the lock. While the combination can be changed by a turning over of the rings and by a reversal of the shackle, as previously described, it can also be changed by piling the rings in a differ ent order or by replacingindividual rings by others adapted for unlocking movement in the opposite direction without a reversal of the shackle. As the rings are arranged loosely in direct contact with each other, these changes can be easily effected. The casing is closed by a cover 2 which screws onto a spindle 6 and which is normally locked by the shackle, the spindle being squared to the'casing so as to prevent it from being" unscrewed.

I claim A combination padlock of the character described, comprising a U-shaped shackle having notched limbs, the notches of one limbbeing staggered relative to those of the other limb, a casing having bores in which,

to receive the limbs of the shackle, and a plurality of superposed rings arranged rotatably in said casing so as to encroach on the bores and engage the notches of the 5 shackle limbs, each ring having an elongated notch Which registers with the full portion of one limb so as to allow a partial rotation of the ring through the notch in the opposite shackle limb, the ring having also a notch Which, in one end position of the ring, registers With said latter limb so as to allow the shackle to move.

ERNEST TOBLER. 

